Let part who will; but we shall keep together.

Michael:

Come follow, O ye faithful choristers, G.o.d's Field-marshal behind.

Luciferians:

Depart in peace.

BELZEBUB. LUCIFER. LUCIFERIANS.

Belzebub:

The Field-marshal, in haste, to G.o.d hath gone, Bearing complaint. Keep heart: Prince Lucifer Speeds. .h.i.therward on winged chariot.

Ye should therefore at once deliberate.

Helpless the battled host without a chief: As to myself, the post is far too grave.

Lucifer:

Afar and wide, the Heavens vibrate and shake 500 With the sound of your disputes. The legions stand Divided, split in twain. The tumult wins Increase. Our great necessity enjoins Much prudence here, disaster to prevent.

Luciferians:

Lord Stadtholder, of all the Spirits brave.

Retreat and refuge sure, we hope that thou Shalt ne'er, as Michael, doom the neck of the Angels To be thrust 'neath the feet of Adam's brood, And then, as he, go gild and bloom this shame And insult with the show of equity; 510 And with thy might sustain the bold ascent Of man, this gross and Earth-born race. To G.o.d, By him so seldom seen, what incense brings he?

Why stand we charged to serve a worm so base, To bear him on our hands, to heed his voice?

Made G.o.d the boundless Heavens and Angels then For him alone? 'Twere better far had we Never been made, sooth, had we never been.

Oh! pity, Lucifer, do not permit Our Order now so low to be abased, 520 And, guiltless, to decline, while man, thus made The Chief of Angels, e'er shall shine and glow Amid the splendor inaccessible, Before which Seraphim as shadows fade, With dreadful trembling. If thou'lt condescend So great injustice in this Realm to quell, And shalt maintain our Rights, we swear together E'er to support thy mighty arm. Then grasp This battle-axe. Help us our Rights to ward.

We swear, by force, in majesty undimmed, 530 To set thee on the Throne for Adam made.

We swear with one accord support. Then grasp This battle-axe. Help us our Rights to ward.

Lucifer:

My sons, upon whose faith and loyalty No stain of treason lies, all that G.o.d wills, All He demands of us, is right: I know No other law; and stay, as Stadtholder Of G.o.d, His late decree and His resolve With all my might. This sceptre which I bear, To my right hand the great Omnipotent 540 Gave, as a mark of mercy and a sign Of His love and affection for us all.

Doth now His mind and heart to Adam turn, And doth it please Him now to set mankind In full dominion us above--them over Both you and me to crown, though in our charge We ne'er grew weary, yet what remedy?

Who will oppose such resolution here?

Had He to Adam given an equal rank, A nature like unto the Angel world, 550 It were supportable for all the sons Of Heaven, sprung from G.o.d's lineage; now let Them be displeased, if such displeasure be On high not counted as a stain. However, There is a danger on each side--to yield Through fearfulness, or boldly to oppose.

I wish that your resentment He forgive.

Luciferians:

Lord Stadtholder, aye, grasp this battle-axe.

Protect our holy Right. We'll follow thee.

We'll follow on. Lead thou with speedy wings: 560 We'll perish, or triumphant overcome.

Lucifer:

That breaks our oath and Gabriel's command.

Luciferians:

That violates G.o.d's self, sets man above.

Lucifer:

Let G.o.d His honor, Throne, and majesty Himself preserve.

Luciferians:

Do thou preserve thy throne.

As pillars we will stay thee, and the state Of the Angel world as well. Mankind shall never Our crown, the crown of G.o.d, tread in the dust.

Lucifer:

Soon shall the Field-marshal, great Michael, armed With blessings from on high, 'gainst us appear, 570 With all his host. His army 'gainst your own-- How great the difference!

Luciferians:

If not one half.

At least a third part of the Spirits, thou Shalt sweep with thee, when thou shalt join our side.

Lucifer:

Then shall we venture all, our favor lost To the oppressors of your lawful Right.

Luciferians:

Courage, hope, insult, sorrow, and despair, Prudence and injury and vengeance for Such inequality, not otherwise Composed: all this, and what on this depends, 580 Shall nerve our arms to strike the blow.

Belzebub:

Even now The Holy Realm is in our power. Whatever May be resolved, our weapons shall enforce, Our arms shall soon compel. Once place us here In battle rank, and they who waver yet, Soon toward our side shall lean.

Lucifer:

I trust me, then, This violence with violence to oppose.

Belzebub:

Mount, then, these steps. O bravest of the brave!

Lord Stadtholder, we pray, ascend this throne, That thee we now allegiance may swear. 590

Lucifer:

Prince Belzebub, bear witness; also ye, O Lords ill.u.s.trious; Apollion, Bear witness thou, and thou, Prince Belial bold, That I, constrained by necessity And by compulsion, shall advance this cause.

Thus to defend G.o.d's Realm and to ward off Our own impending ruin.

Belzebub: